*The extracts on this page are taken from various newspapers and media outlets. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Aston Villa.

Birmingham Mail: Christian Benteke has rocked Villa by handing in a transfer request - and the club are now prepared to sell their star striker. Last season's 23-goal top scorer has not travelled with the squad for their pre-season tour of Germany after stating he wants to leave.

Birmingham Mail: Captain Ron Vlaar has kicked off Villa's pre-season tour with a candid admission that he must do better during the forthcoming campaign. Vlaar was not satisfied by his overall level of performance last term and is demanding higher standards of himself from now on.

Birmingham Mail: East German Villan Rene Lehmann will be spying on his beloved Villa this week thanks to a special bond - James Bond. Rene first started supporting the claret and blues more than three decades ago after mistakenly associating the club with 007's famous Aston Martin car.

Daily Star: Martin Jol wants six more summer signings as part of his big Fulham shake-up. Aston Villa's £5m outcast striker Darren Bent is top of his wanted list.

Mirror: Christian Benteke last night rocked Aston Villa by slapping in a transfer request. Boss Paul Lambert and his squad flew out to Germany this week for their pre-season tour, but the Chelsea and Tottenham target was absent.

Daily Star: Liverpool are ready to make a move for wantaway Aston Villa ace Christian Benteke.

The Sun: Christian Benteke rocked Aston Villa last night by slapping in a shock transfer request. Chelsea and Spurs will now battle it out for the £30million-rated Belgian hitman after Villa admitted they WILL sell if the price is right.

Daily Express: Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal were put on alert last night when Aston Villa star striker Christian Benteke, 22, put in a written transfer request. The Belgian, whose goals kept Villa up, will be a target for London club bosses Andre Villas-Boas - who missed out on Barcelona's David Villa - Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger.

*The extracts on this page are taken from various newspapers and media outlets. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Aston Villa.